The
first meeting of The Driving Horse & Pony Club of Bermuda (D.H.P.C.) was held
on July 4, 1973 and even though the purpose of the Club has transitioned from hosting
driving shows to harness racing, the relaxation and enjoyment people have in
watching driving remains the same.

Harness
racing is a worldwide sport but in Bermuda the challenge of racing has higher
demands due to the size and shape of our race track.Competitors and spectators feel the power of
the ponies as they strive to do what they do best which is go fast and
win.This sport requires dedication,
determination and commitment from its competitors but it is also dependent upon
a strong support group, like any other sport.The Club’s Executive Committee, its membership and those that have an
interest in the Club are all volunteers and are committed to working together
to ensure a strong foundation by which the sport of harness racing can continue
to develop and grow.

The
Executive Committee’s objective is to improve upon this sport and to provide
social entertainment for families and businesses.This year’s harness racing season has
attracted the highest level of junior drivers that the Club has had in many years as well as seasoned drivers.We
therefore anticipate increased spectator attendance for this upcoming season.

The main events during the
season continue to be theBoxing
Day and New Year's Day Stake Races and the Champion of Champions weekend.

The
Boxing
Day Stakes are held on Boxing Day and have proven year over year to
be a spectator favorite with finals being held on New Year's Day.There are four race categories which include the two year olds, three year olds, four year
olds and aged ponies.The four fastest
ponies from each category will advance to the final dash while any remaining
ponies in each category will advance to the consolation race for that
category.

The
Grand Finale of the harness racing season is the Champion of Champions
which is a two day race weekend scheduled for February 23rd and 24th, 2019and involves the twelve fastest ponies for the
2018/2019 season regardless of the age of the ponies.These ponies will race it out to determine
the ultimate winner and therefore the Champion of all Champions.

On Friday February 22, 2019 a Calcutta
dinner will be hosted where the twelve ponies will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Then the very next day the top twelve
ponies will draw for positions and there will be three races with each race
having four ponies competing.The top
four fastest average times will move onto the finals on February 24, 2019.The Champion of Champions finals will
have two consolation heats for the ponies that did not make the cut and the
final race of the top four ponies will be held.Monies will be awarded to the person that purchases any of the top four ponies left standing in the final race on February 24, 2019.

It is also the hope of the Executive Committee to be able to bring back the Best 3 Series stakes races in the 2019-2020 race season.

The D.H.P.C. is an Active Affiliate Member Club of the Bermuda Equestrian Federation, the governing body of all equestrian events in Bermuda.